Gregory's Girl footballer, 12, who forced the FA to let her play for boys' teams is banned again

Wednesday 16 July 2008 11:20 BST

A 'Gregory's Girl' footballer who forced the FA to let her play for boys' teams has been banned from a tournament.

Becky Gregory, 12, was left in tears after officials barred her from six-a-side competition.

Like Dorothy in the 1981 hit film Gregory's Girl, Becky wanted to play against boys her own age.

She challenged the FA policy and persuaded them to allow under-14 mixed teams as part of a year-long trial.

Disappointing: Becky Gregory,12, the footballer who fored the FA to let her play alongside boys

Disappointing: Becky Gregory,12, the footballer who fored the FA to let her play alongside boys

But organisers of a tournament at De La Salle Sports Club in Salford, Greater Manchester, ignored the FA move, and wouldn't allow her to play. They said their event wasn't included in the FA trial.

Mother Jane said: 'It's not fair. She was crying her eyes out when she found out. It's discrimination. The organisers came straight over and said she wasn't allowed to play.

'She's gutted and so are her team-mates. They've had to play without their usual goalkeeper.'

Clubs must register girl players at the start of the season under the FA trial and clubs organising tournaments are required to apply to be included.

A spokesman for De La Salle said: 'The tournament was registered with Manchester FA and the rules were approved by them as part of that process.

'FA rules allow girls and boys to play against each other up to and including the under-11 age group and after that they must play in and against single-sex teams.

Hit movie: Dee Hepburn, centre, in the 1980 Scottish film Gregory's Girl, which told the story of a teenage girl who starred in a boy's football team

Hit movie: Dee Hepburn, centre, in the 1980 Scottish film Gregory's Girl, which told the story of a teenage girl who starred in a boy's football team

'The tournament rules issued to all competing teams detailed the differences from usual 11-a-side games and stated that all other rules are as per FA rules for the small-sided games.

'It was noticed that Becky was included in an under-12 team and the manager was informed that, unfortunately she was not eligible to play and the reason was fully explained.'

Mrs Gregory, 38, said Rebecca had played in a tournament with boys under-15 the previous weekend.

She said: 'I've checked the rules and there's nothing preventing Becky from playing. She's played in several tournaments recently.

'I was selling De La Salle programmes on the gates until recently.'

Becky, who raised £110 for the Lancaster Road club during a five-mile fun run, also trains at the FA Centre of Excellence for elite girl footballers in Ashton under Lyne and made history as the first girl to play for a 'best of league' team from Salford.

She said: 'I was really upset when I found out. I love football and don't mind if it gets a bit rough. I should have been allowed to play. It's not fair.'

More than 100 teams played in the 11th Frank Buckley tournament and several girls played in teams in younger age groups.